OTC Teeth-Whitening Products Bring Smiles

More and more people are becoming interested in improving the appearance of their smiles. A variety of OTC products are now available, and a recent study examined the efficacy of 1 such product.

In a clinical trial (published in the November 2002 Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry) of a ?paint-on? liquid whitening gel containing 18% carbamide peroxide (Colgate? Simply White), 80 healthy participants were balanced into 2 groups. The first group used the product for 30 minutes twice daily for 2 weeks, while the other group used a placebo gel.

The results:? Patients using the whitening gel had whiter teeth at the end of the trial? They also reported that the product was easy to apply and did not interfere with their speech or lifestyle